Writing implement



Oct. 25, 1960 n.1.. BRANNON WRITING IMPLEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept, 17, 1956 Hmmm..

Oct. 25, 1960 R. L.. BRANNON WRITING IMPLEMENT Qu WR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 195

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United States Pat-ent ij WRITING IMPLEMENT Roland L. Brannon, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignor to W. A. Sheaier Pen Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 17, 1956, Ser. fNo. 610,316 5 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

This invention relates to writing implements and more particularly to writing implements of the fountain pen type.

In the construction of lthe usual type fountain pen employing a liquid writing uid it has usually been necessary to provide such implements with a cap if the implements are to be carried in the pocket or handbag of the user. The caps have been considered necessary in order` to prevent accidental spilling of the writing fluid with attendant soiling of the clothes of the person carryimplement will not immediately write when applied tov Furthermore, the capsthat haveV the writing surface. been used in the past offer the further disadvantage that theyr may become separated from the implement and lost, whereafter it is practically impossible for the implement to be carried by the user without soiling the clothes.

It has lbeen proposed in connection with the so-called ball point pen writing implements to provide a device in which the point of the implement can be retracted into the main body portion thereof whereby the implement may readily be carried by the user without concern over the soiling -of clothes. However, such structures have not been feasible in connection with fountain pens employing liquid Writing iluid since the liquid fluid in most types of constructions tends to leak from the point upon changes in temperature or barometric conditions. f Y

Accordingly, it is :an object of this invention to provide a fountain pen in which it is not necessary to employ the usual type of cap for concealing the writing point when the implement is not in use.

A further object of this invention is the a fountain pen which may be carried by lthe user in a point down position in order that the writing point will always be ready for immediate transfer of uid upon use.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a capless fountain pen wherein a sealing member .is normally open to freely pass a Writing element therethrough and scalabley to conceal said element.

point up position, the writing fluid provision of A still .further object of this invention is the provision of a novel construction which may be readily adaptable to many types of implements that have been previously sold commercially.

Further and additional objects will appear from the tollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In Iaccordance with one embodiment of this invention, a capless :fountainl pen has been provided which cornprises ahollow main `body portion having an open -for- 2,957,452 Patented Oct. 25, 1960 ward end, a writing point or nib mounted on said body portion for movement relative to and through said open end between point exposed and point concealed positions, and .a sealing means operable upon said movement to said point concealed position whereby to seal the point against access to the atmosphere through the open end thereby preventing accidental leakage when the implement is not in use and is being carried. More specifically, this invention relates -to -a fountain pen in which Ithe main body portion includes a barrel section and a sleeve mounted on the for-ward end thereof. The implement is provided with a liuid reservoir and a writing nib in communication with the reservoir forwardly of the barrel section. The sleeve has an open forward end and is movable with respect to the barrel section to a rearward nib or point exposing position and to a forward nib or point concealing position. Within the sleeve and adjacent the forward open end thereof is provided the resilient sealing member or diaphragm having an aperture for receiving the .pen nib or writing point upon the movement of the sleeve toward the nib exposing position. The aperture in the diaphgram is spaced forwardly of the nib or writing point when the sleeve is in the nib concealing position, and means `are provided for closing the aperture in the diaphragm upon the movement of the sleeve 4to the nib concealing position whereby the nib or writing point is sealed against .free access to the atmosphere. As indicated above, this invention is readily applicable to a number of different types of constructions that have been suggested in the prior art. For example, this invention is readily .adaptable to a device having an extensible filling tube such as is disclosed in Lynn P. Martin application `Serial No. 256,897, led November 17, 1951, now Patent No.` 2,769,427 and more particularly to an implement having a pneumatically collapsible sac of the character disclosed in Martin United States Patent No. 2,610,612, dated September 16, 1952. However, the invention has particular applicability in :those writing implements that are provided with a so-called capillary mass type reservoir and such an implement is disclosed in the copending application of Craig R. Sheaffer Serial No. 319,031, filed November 6, 1952, now Patent No. 2,784,699. As is known, capillary reservoirs are freely vented to the atmosphere at their rearward ends and it is not necessary to provide expansion chambers because of the lfact that writing iluid is not expelled therefrom .due to :barometric or temperature changes. Thus the capillary .type reservoirs are essentially free from leakage under ordinary conditions of .use and are therefore particularly suitable for use in connection with the provision of a capless type fountain pen of the vcharacter contemplated by this invention.

For a more complete understand-ing of this invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the forward end of a writing implement constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 1A is a broken sectional view of Ithe rearward end of the implement shown in Fig. 1;

:Fig 2 is a perspective view Iof the sealing diaphragm that is employed in the implements shown in the other drawings;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 cordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;

and

Fig. 5A is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the rearward end of the implement shown in Fig. 5.

With more particular reference to Figs. l through 4, there is shown an implement embodying this invention and ladapted to the type of structure shown in the above referred to Martin Patent No. 2,769,427 and Martin Patent No. 2,610,612. ln this modification the implement includes a main body portion which comprises a hollow barrel and a cylindrical sleeve 12 threadedly secured to the forward end of the barrel by means of threads 14 on the barrel cooperating with a threaded collar 16 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the sleeve 12 at point 18. A pneumatically collapsible reservoir 20 is provided within the barrel 10 and this reservoir is a part of a cartridge unit formed by a sheath 22, a bushing 24 and a filling tube 26, the construction and operation of which are fully set forth in Martin Patent No. 2,769,427.

Secured to the forward end of the barrel is a feed bar section which includes a plug 28 containing the usual comb cuts or grooves providing an expansion chamber. This plug 28 has an axial aperture through which extends a hollow tubular feed bar 30 and through which in turn extends the filling tube 26. The feed bar 30 has a writing nib 32 and point 34 formed integrally therewith which serves to convey ink to the paper during writing. Also a collar or stop member 36 is secured to a rearward portion of the plug 28 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter explained. By examination of Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings it will be readily apparent that when the sleeve 12 is rotated with respect to the barrel 10, the sleeve will move axially between the two positions shown by virtue -of the threaded collar 16 integral with the sleeve riding on threads 14.

As previously indicated, the sleeve 12 which in one sense is a part of the main body portion of the implement is provided with an open forward end 38 through which the writing point 34 may be said to move although it will be apparent that in this embodiment it is the writing point which is stationary relative to the barrel 10 and it is the sleeve 12 that actually moves. Near the front end of the sleeve 12 is provided a sealing diaphragm 40 which is detailed in Fig. 2. This sealing diaphragm is preferably made of rubber or other readily deformable plastic material and is molded essentially in the shape shown in Fig. 2. The diaphragm is supported on a bushing 42 which in turn supports a ring 44 and a sleeve 46 which latter is threadedly secured to another ring 48. The elements 40 through 48 specified immediately above provide an integral structure which is movable as a unit in an axial direction with respect to the barrel 10 and the expansion chamber plug 28. A compression spring 50 surrounding a forward portion of the barrel section serves to urge the diaphragm supporting assembly in a forward direction toward what may be termed a writing point sealing position. The limit of the forward movement of the diaphragm supporting section, however, is governed by the ring 36 which serves in cooperation with a shoulder 51 on ring 48 as a stop to prevent the further forward movement of the diaphragm section, as will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 4.

With further reference to the sleeve 12, it will be noted that the forward portion thereof is shown as having a ring 52 secured thereto and this ring 52 is freely slidable over the outer rearward surface of the rear end of the sealing diaphragm 40. Thus when the diaphragm is held in a fixed position and the ring 52 is moved forwardly relative thereto, the ring 52 eventually abuts the shoulder 54 on the diaphragm causing the several projections 53 on the forward furcate end thereof to fold together to provide an effective seal as is more particularly shown in Fig. 4.

It is believed that the operation of this device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing description. However, assuming that the implement is inthe condition shown in Fig. 4 which is the stand-by or causing the sleeve to the collar '52 to move along carrying condition, the writing point 34 is withdrawn behind the sealing diaphragm 40 which is in the sealed condition by reason of the ring 52 abutting against the shoulder 54 of the diaphragm. In this position the pen point and nib are fully concealed and no writing fiuid can pass through the forward portion of the device. It is particularly adaptable to be carried in a point down position in the pocket of the user by the clip 57. In order to condition the implement for writing the sleeve 12 is manually rotated with respect to the barrel section 10 in order to move the sleeve in a rearward direction with respect to the barrel. Initially this movement causes only the sleeve 12 and the parts integral therewith to move rearwardly and the diaphragm and its supporting elements are held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the action of the spring 50. Ring 52 secured to sleeve 12 is thereby carried away from abutment with shoulder S4 permitting the furcate end of the diaphragm to unfold to the open (see Fig. 2 or Fig. 1) condition of the diaphragm. When the rearward edge of ring 52 on the forward end of sleeve 12 comes into contact with the forward surface 45 of the ring 44, further rearward movemerit of the sleeve 12 causes the diaphragm and its supporting elements to be moved rearwardly with respect to the barrel 10 along with the sleeve 12. As this happens, the writing point 34 or nib is projected to the desired distance through the opening 38 to condition the implement for writing. The rearward position of the sleeve 12 is determined by the abutment of the threaded sleeve 16 against a shoulder 55 formed within the barrel.

As will be apparent from a consideration of the disclosure in Martin Patent No. 2,769,427, the writing fluid is fed to the usual slit in the nib 32 through appropriate feed channels in the filling tube 26 and the feed bar tube 30 and venting of the reservoir also occurs through the enlarged channel in the filling tube 26. In an implement of this character it is usually desirable to provide for expansion chambers in order to accommodate any fluid that may be expelled from the reservoir due to temperature or barometric changes, therefore the nib 32 is provided with a rearwardly extending capillary slot 58 which communicates with the comb cuts and grooves in the expansion chamber plug 28 in the known manner. Openings 59 and 61 are provided in the sleeve 12 and ling 48 to provide a vent for the expansion chamber. When it is desired to fill a writing fluid reservoir, this is preferably done when th'e writing tip is in the exposed position as shown in Fig. 1. Thus a cap 60 on the barrel 10 is rotated to project the reservoir and associated structure including the filling tube 26 in a forward direction. The filling tube then reciprocates through the feed bar tube 30 and the forward end thereof extends for a substantial distance forwardly of the writing point 34 so that the reservoir may be filled pneumatically by means that will be understood from a consideration of said Patent No. 2,769,427 without requiring that the front end of the implement or pen nib be actually dipped below the surface of the writing fiuid. Thereafter the filling tube is retracted by rotating the cap 60 in the opposite direction. The implement is then ready for writing. In order to position the writing point in a point concealed position so that it may be carried by the user, vthe sleeve 12 is turned relative to the barrel 10 ride forwardly with respect to the barrel. At the same time the diaphragm-supporting section, comprising the above specified elements 40 through 48, also moves forwardly by virtue of the spring 50. The parts are arranged so that the diaphragm section moves axially with the sleeve until such time as the writing point 34 has been withdrawn to a point concealed position and determined by the positioning of the collar 36 which serves as a stop member. When this point has been reached, continued rotation of the sleeve 12 then causes the rear vcylindrical portion of the sealing diaphragm. 40 and eventually cause the he point is concealed and the forward end of the implenent is sealed against access to the atmosphere thereby preventing leakage or spilling when the implement is being carried.

With reference to the modified form of the device` shown in Figs. and 5A, thel mode of'mounting the sleeve and sealing diaphragm are essentially Ithe same as described above. The principal difference is that in this modification the invention has been illustrated for use in connection vwith the so-called capillary mass type reservoir. These reservoirs have certain advantages and it is for this reason that the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 5A presently constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention. `In thisV structurev the'reservoir 62 is a part of a cartridge unit which also includes an elongated tubular pen nib 64 that is secured directly to the reservoir section itself. inasmuch as this is a capillary mass type reservoir, no expansion chambers are necessary in this device and accordingly the structure comprising the writing nibor point Amay also be used directly for filling the device. '11n this modification yboth the tubular nib `64 and the main' reservoir section 62 are filled with a mass of suitable capillary material which will permit the writing fluid to be drawn into the reservoir section when the writing nib is dipped into a body of the fluid. A reservoir of this type is generally disclosed in the above referred to Patent No. 2,784,699, and the materials contained within the reservoir section to provide the desired degree of capillarity may be any of those materials specifically mentioned in said application or others that are well known in the art, such as sintered metal, tightly packed cotton fibers, cotton or linen wadding, or any other material that will permit the ready absorption of large quantities of writing fluid by capillary attraction. As is well known, the rearward end of the reservoir 62 is vented to the atmosphere through a suitable vent such as vent 66. In this device it is usually preferred to extend the forward end or Writing point to a considerable extent during the filling operation so that the forward portions of the implement will not accidentally be contacted with the writing fluid. To this end the wall of the reservoir 62 is provided with threads 68 adjacent the rear end thereof which cooperate with corresponding threads 69 on a plunger 70 secured to a rearward cap 72. The reservoir l62 is prevented from rotating within the barrel 74 by means of deformations 76 which ride in grooves 78 formed on the inner wall of the barrel.

Thus the implement shown in Figs. 5 and 5A is in a position ready for writing. If it is desired to fill the reservoir with writing uid, the cap 72 is rotated with respect to the barrel 74 causing the reservoir section 62 including the nib portion 64 and a forward writing point 80 to be projected for a substantial distance forwardly of the sleeve 82, a position not shown in the drawings. The extended tip 80 is then immersed in writing uid and the reservoir is filled by capillarity. Of course, this capillary reservoirmay be force-filled by a suitable capillary force-feeding means such as disclosed and claimed in application Serial No. 609,281 or application Serial No. 609,116, both filed September 11, 1956, if desired. Thereafter the cap 72 is again rotated to withdraw the reservoir section into the barrel 74 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 5A of the drawing and the implement is again ready for writing.

When it is desired to conceal the writing point to permit the implement to be carried without soiling the clothes, then the sleeve 82 is rotated with respect to the barrel 74 in the same manner as indicated in the discussion of the previous embodiment whereby to position the point 80 behind the sealing diaphragm 84 and whereafter the pressure of collar 86 abutting against shoulder 88 causes vthe sealing diaphragm 84 to close, thereby sealing the writing point against access tothe the front end of the implement.

Thus it will be apparent that a writing implement has'.

been provided which may be easily carried by the user without soiling his or her clothes and which may be carried in a point down position so that fluid will always be immediately available for writing. The sealing diaphragm automatically operates to seal the point against accidental leakage.

' While particular embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be'understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, bythe appended claims, to cover, any such modifications as fall within the, true spirit and vscope of this invention. i

I claim:

1. A fountain pen comprising a barrel section, a fluid reservoir within said barrel section, a writing nib in com,- munication with said reservoir positioned forwardly of said barrel section, a sleeve having an open forward end adapted to receive said nib, said sleeve being mounted on said .barrel section and movable with respect to saidV barrel section to a rearward nib exposing position and to a forward nib concealing position, cylindrical resilient sealing means secured within said sleeve adjacent said open forward end and having a central aperture for receiving said nib upon movement of said sleeve toward said nib exposing position, said sealing means being exible about a circumference intermediate the ends thereof whereby the forward end may be reshaped to close said central aperture, said aperture being spaced forwardly of said nib when said sleeve is in said nib concealing position, said sealing means having an offset portion adjacent said intermediate circumference, and operating means within said sleeve disposed about said sealing means and engageable with said offset portion during said movement of the sleeve to said forward position for reshaping said resilient means and sealing said aperture and said open forward end when said sleeve is moved to the nib concealing position whereby said nib is sealed by said sealing means in said sleeve against access to the atmosphere through -said open end.

2. A fountain pen comprising a barrel section, a iiuid reservoir mounted within said barrel section, a writing nib in communication with said reservoir positioned forwardly of said barrel section, a sleeve having an open forward end, said sleeve being mounted on said barrel section and movable to a rearward nib exposing position wherein said nib extends through said open end and to a forward nib concealing position, cylindrical resilient sealing means secured within said sleeve having a central aperture through which said nib extends when said sleeve is moved toward the nib exposing position, said aperture being spaced forwardly of said nib when said sleeve is in the nib concealing position, said sealing means comprising a generally cylindrical member having lan offset outer portion and a furcate portion including a plurality of individually flexible projections aligned with the axis of said pen wherein said projections may be deformed inwardly about a circumference of said sealing means -to transverse positions closing said aperture, and closure operating means operable upon movement of said sleeve for applying pressure against the offset outer portion of said sealing means to close said'aperture and said open forward end when said sleeve is in the nib concealing position whereby said nib is sealed against access to the atmosphere through said open end.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel section, a uid reservoir mounted within said barrel section, a writing nib in communication with said reservoir positioned forwardly of said barre-l section, a sleeve having an open forward end, said sleeve being mounted on said barrel section and movable to a rearward nib exposing position wherein said nib extends through said open end and to a.

atmosphere through transverse positions closing said aperture, and closurel operating means operable upon movement of said sleeve for applying pressure against the olset portion of said sealing member to close said aperture and said open forward end when said sleeve is in the nib concealing position whereby said nib is sealed against access to the atmosphere `through said open end, said closure operating means including .a collar movable with said sleeve and movable relative to said sealing means to engage the offset portion of said sealing means and urge said projections inwardly when said sleeve is in said nib concealing position.

4. The fountain pen of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is threadedly supported on said barrel section and relative rotation therebetween produces said movement between theY nib exposing Iand nib concealing positions.

5. The fountain pen of claim 1 wherein said sealing means is axially movable relative to said sleeve and said operating means and including means urging said sealing means forwardly within said sleeve means, and means connecting saidsleeve means and said sealing means to move said sealing means rearwardly relative to said wrting nib with said sleeve means when said sleeve means is moved to the nib exposing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Corresponding to U.S. Pat. 2,802,477, Aug. 13, 1957) 

